The Trump administration\u2019s new halt on immigration applications from countries including Cuba, Haiti and Venezuela has created alarm in South Florida \u2014 and a rare rebuke from a Miami congresswoman.<\/p>\n
Since late last week, immigration attorneys across Miami and other cities here tell WLRN that immigration processes like citizenship ceremonies and green card (legal residence) appointments have suddenly been cancelled.<\/p>\n
\u201cA young Venezuelan man whose green card interview through marriage was scheduled for [this week] just got a call two hours ago cancelling the appointment, with no explanation,\u201d one Miami attorney said.<\/p>\n
The explanation, though, is a new Trump administration directive \u2014 issued in the wake of last month\u2019s shooting in Washington D.C. of two National Guard soldiers, one fatal, by an Afghan refugee \u2014 to pause all applications for immigrants from 19 countries it calls \u201chigh-risk.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those include Afghanistan but also Cuba, Haiti and Venezuela \u2014 which means a big impact in South Florida.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s drawing criticism from even Republicans \u2014 including Miami Congresswoman Mar\u00eda Elvira Salazar.<\/p>\n
In a statement this week, Salazar calls the pause \u201cunfair\u201d and \u201cun-American.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe United States doesn\u2019t believe in collective punishment. We don\u2019t punish the innocent for the sins of the guilty,\u201d the Salazar statement reads.<\/p>\n
\u201cFreezing asylum, green card, and citizenship processes is not the answer. It punishes hardworking, law-abiding immigrants who followed every step of the legal process.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is unfair, un-American, and it goes against everything this country stands for.\u201d<\/p>\n
Salazar, a Cuban-American who serves Florida\u2019s 27th congressional district, finds herself in a difficult spot ahead of next year\u2019s mid-term elections:<\/p>\n
She needs to acknowledge that many Latinos in her Miami district are angry at President Trump\u2019s severe anti-immigration policies; but she nonetheless needs his support to pass the bipartisan immigration bill she co-sponsors, the Dignity Act, which would legalize millions of undocumented immigrants.<\/p>\n
At a town hall last week at Florida International University, sponsored by the nonprofit grassroots advocacy group 50501, Salazar expressed confidence President Trump will support and eventually sign her legislation.<\/p>\n
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